Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

8 reviews

carojust's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I think those who love this book read it as a historical biography -- you're in it for the well-researched depiction of the Tudor court drama, I get that. But I went into this as a fiction reader, and as a story, this was a slog to get through. 

"Bring Up The Bodies" follows Thomas Cromwell and his political and personal maneuvering in the name of King Henry VIII, leading to Anne Boleyn's demise. I think what's most notable about this book is the reimagining of the queens -- Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour -- who are given more influence, motives and personality than history may credit them with. 

You have to be prepared for pretty dense and archaic wording (I appreciated this, honestly), and each person having 3-4 different names and titles that are alternated every sentence. But beyond these stylistic choices, it's just way longer than it needs to be, every conversation completely spelled out for you. 

I vacillate in rating this, because I can see Hilary Mantel's talent in defining and empathizing with Cromwell's headspace and relationships. I just wish it were more interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

ssummar's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Classism

rosehw's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Incest, Miscarriage, Blood, and Pregnancy

naomi_k's review against another edition

dark informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, and Pregnancy

Minor: Confinement, Sexual content, and Classism

megb64's review against another edition

challenging informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Pregnancy

jhbandcats's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The second entry in Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy is just as good as the first. As King Henry VIII grows increasingly enamored of Jane Seymour, Cromwell is charged with getting Queen Anne Boleyn out of the way so Jane can become Henry’s third queen. Cromwell’s in a difficult spot - the political machinations of the various factions around Henry mean he’s always watching his step. He has no true friend, just people who want to use him or stay out of his clutches, so if he’s not careful, Cromwell could fall as quickly as Anne’s admirers. 

As before, the writing is exquisite. It’s a bit challenging - there aren’t always quotation marks and it’s difficult to tell who is saying what - but once the rhythm settles in it flows smoothly. Mantel’s sardonic wit is as caustic as ever; she describes Anne Boleyn’s uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, as looking “like a piece of rope chewed by a dog, or a piece of gristle left on the side of a trencher.”

Wolf Hall is one of my favorite all-time books, and Bring Up the Bodies is a worthy sequel. I’m now hoping to finish the trilogy with the 800+ page The Mirror and the Light. Mantel is just an extraordinary writer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Blood, Pregnancy, and Classism

tmickey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Torture, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide and Blood

malloryfitz's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, and Alcohol